The youngest candidate in the recent election, Mikhaela Barlow has a message for our new councillors: be brave, ignore the loud-mouths, and start making decisions for the long-term.

By Mikhaela Barlow

THIS YEAR, I ran in the Bass Coast Shire Election in Western Port Ward. I was the youngest female candidate in Gippsland certainly, and quite possibly the youngest female candidate in Victoria, as I only turned 19 at the end of September.

I received quite a few comments concerning my age. Some saw it as an advantage – a chance for “new/ fresh blood” to enter the council. Others said I needed more experience with the world before entering such a role. The statement seemed unconstitutional: according to law, any resident of Australia on the electoral role is eligible to run for local government. Are they saying there needs to be an amendment to restrict the age of councillors?

In a more specific context, several issues were barely mentioned.

The environment, for one, was just too big and scary. Hardly anyone wanted to touch it because then they might have to start saying some unpopular things.

Tourism was mentioned but no one seemed to have a plan to attract visitors all year round so local small businesses don’t suffer in the slower months.

The fact that automation will bring an end to our retail industry was neatly dodged by almost everyone.What was mentioned constantly was consultancy and finance and the three Rs: rates, roads and rubbish. These same three loud-mouth issues that have been talked about forever.

There is a rate cap, roads are built under special charge schemes and we are part of a regional waste management group. Can we move on? Please? There are bigger issues here.

My main issue with the whole election was the fact that candidates sounded like clones. Everyone said the same thing: finances need to be handled better, there needs to be more consultancy, lower rates, cut costs. No one had a new idea, which is what Bass Coast sorely needs now. No one was thinking radically.

Come to think of it, no one was thinking further ahead than maybe five to 10 years. No one was thinking of 50 years in the future, when the coast has eroded away, the sea temperature has risen and the penguins have left, when our retail sector is gone thanks to eBay and other online sites, when all the young people have left to find work and there is no one to look after the old people.

These are the issues no one seems willing to address.

Allow me to address the new councillors: I know you want the best for the community. But you need to start making decisions for the future, not for the interim. You need to start making decisions with the Millennials in mind and the generations that will come after us. Don’t bow to the demands of the loud-mouths. Instead, make decisions that are still going to be benefiting us in 50 years.

Think about the environment and how you can protect it. Think about tourism and how to generate it. Think about where we can move our economy once retail becomes redundant. Think about how the council can support our artists and the community at large. Just think!

Because the truth is that the loud-mouths are going to die, you new councillors are going to die, and we, the Millennials, will still be left behind with what you made here now.

I know some Millennials have given us all a bad name. I know that sometimes we can be frustrating and seemingly only concerned with small, petty issues. But we are paying attention. We are concerned about the future of our home, our shire. We don’t want to leave, but it seems we have to.

When I talked to young people during this election, they were surprised I was standing. The universal reaction was “Why bother? No one is listening to us anyway.” I think it’s time to change that, don’t you?

I know there is a plan for a skate park and the council has a youth committee. But don’t patronise us with tokens and then tell us to go away when we ask for help. You can’t keep shutting us out from the big decisions. Because we are part of this community too, and we may well be the most important part of it – we are the future.

​Don’t leave us with a mess because you were too afraid to spend too much or to upset somebody. Leave us with a legacy you can be proud of.

I have had absolute admiration for you and especially after seeing you and hearing you at various Candidates evenings prior to the L.G. elections. Keep up your fantastic enthusiasm and great work. Age should never be an issue.

Reply

Jane Westworth

18/11/2016 09:10:49 pm

Mikhaela, I so enjoyed your freshness and determination when I heard you speak. I very much hope that you will continue your fight, that we'll hear your voice ringing out again in support of youth, the environment, Climate Change - and the future. Hang in there!

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bob middo

19/11/2016 11:53:20 am

I think we have missed out on a talented councillor here. A breath of fresh air,someone with imagination and wisdom beyond their years. One could say a lateral thinker in the bogged down barren field of local council. Don't go anywhere Mikhaela. We need people like you.

Bob Middleton

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Joan James

20/11/2016 09:15:05 am

I was extremely impressed by this article. It shows wisdom and passion. The future will certainly be different and you are correct, it needs to be planned for now. Well done .

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Marian Quigley

20/11/2016 12:45:01 pm

Well said Mikhaela - good on you for standing and I hope you 'll try again next time around.

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John Coldebella

20/11/2016 02:25:20 pm

The first time I heard Mikhaela speak publicly was at an anti-desalination rally. She was but a child, however that didn't stop me from being impressed. I second all previous comments.

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Bob Marley

23/4/2018 02:58:41 pm

hey hey hey, whats doin. love you xx

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Mikhaela Barlow

​I've lived in Bass Coast all my life, am passionate about social justice and fairness, am an activist for the environment, social equality and homelessness. I like to write things to make people have an emotional reaction or ponder deeply about something.